Any local Santa Cruz, Boulder Creek, Felton, surrounding area resident advice? (San Jose: rentals, house)

[phree_spirit]

I've been getting some pretty good responses on other threads, but I need some advice from a local!
So in the beach area of Santa Cruz, foggy weather most of the time? Or is that further north on the coast? As for the surrounding mountain areas of Boulder Creek, Felton, Scotts Valley, Los Gatos Mountains, what could I expect for a typical summer day? Winter? I'm from Connecticut, so I can handle a pretty chilling winter, the thing is, I don't want to have to. How cold does it get? The city-data info on these areas is only getting me so far, I need a local! Thanks.

[lstyles]

Have lived in the Santa Cruz area ALL my life except for the first 10 years. The weather has changed considerably--not much summer fog any more. The further south you go, the more fog, like in Aptos. if you want to go to the mountains, Bonny Doon (where I live), Felton, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, etc., you will find the summers hotter and the winters colder/wetter, but beeeeeuuuuuuteeeeful with the redwood trees and mountains. People who have lived in the Santa Cruz area will do one of two things...move away (due to high cost of living) and regret doing so, or....never move like me. My hub and I are now considering a move, but cannot find anyplace with the beauty and/or climate comparable. It's quite the place!! Believe me.

[outaPA]

Sorry, but HOW hot are typical summer days? There is no rain in the summer, correct? And what is cold? That is pretty relative.

I also am considering relocating to this area. It seems very attraactive. Could you recommend any good school districts to teach in (or ones to avoid)?

If one lived in this area, would it be feasible to commute to southern Santa Clara county or the southern suburbs of San Jose? About how long might that take? Would nice rentals be doable on a teacher's salary? I have checked advertised prices for rentals, but not being from the area, I don't know what the neighborhoods would be like.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[lstyles]

Summer, in Santa Cruz, normally is 65-73. Periods of low 80's come and go, but if it gets too warm, 85 and above, the fog will roll in and cool it down. It's the most temperate of climates. If you get into the mountains, it can easily run in the 80's most days in the summers and 50's in the winter. Rain is rare in the summer. Depending on the year, the winters get around 25-30 inches; however, last year we received over 70 inches of rain. it was unbelieveable, but completely over, once spring past. Also, the mountain areas get frost, where the lower areas (Santa Cruz proper) rarely get it. I think snow shows up once every 7 years and it can be great fun, because we never have to deal with it. Housing is expensive here, in comparison to other areas. Many many many people commute to the Silicon Valley/Santa Clara county areas for employment. Typical commute time is 45 min. to 1 hour+, depending where you're headed. Can't really tell you where the best place to employ yourself as a teacher. [mod cut - please do not post real esate websites] Good luck!!

[Wisteria]

I've been getting some pretty good responses on other threads, but I need some advice from a local!
So in the beach area of Santa Cruz, foggy weather most of the time? Or is that further north on the coast? As for the surrounding mountain areas of Boulder Creek, Felton, Scotts Valley, Los Gatos Mountains, what could I expect for a typical summer day? Winter? I'm from Connecticut, so I can handle a pretty chilling winter....

Hi, You may have seen some of my posts on Caramelboo's thread...I live in the Lompico area of Felton, above Santa Cruz. But....I am from Buffalo, New York, originally, so I KNOW weather!! And this would be very, very mild to you.

Where I am is relatively cheap, but only 6 miles from my house to the coast -- a 20 minute car ride on country roads (Graham Hill Road) (less if you take the highway). Winters rain -- the tiny snow I remember getting was about 10 years ago, but it melted in minutes. Where I am, near a reservoir called Loch Lomond, which looks very much like a New England lake, and has boating, hiking, picnicking and fishing, we rarely get frost. The lake moderates the cold.

Summers are gorgeous. We have a Mediterranean climate and only get rain in the "winter," (translation: rain). Of course, out here, I learned, rain is a big deal -- that's when you can get mudslides and trees might fall -- and a "breeze" is considered a "wind." Very few bugs -- a few mosquitoes, but NOTHING like back east. Hardly any humidity to speak of -- took me several years to "feel" the humidity when people would complain it was humid.

I live in the middle of the redwoods, in a neighborhood called Lompico (http://www.lompico.org/) and it is very eclectic, MUCH cheaper than Santa Cruz, (people don't like to drive the 15-20 minutes to the beach, they'd rather walk it). Summers ARE foggy in Santa Cruz, but NOT up in Felton, Ben Lomond, or Boulder Creek. We have what are called "micro-climates," so it can vary literally every couple of miles -- which is why I don't get frost where I am, but a mile away, at a lower elevation, I will see frost on the grass or cars.

People who are natives of here see their weather differently -- they complain when it's foggy or raining -- they have never endured the rough weather of the northeast. I am sure that coming from CT, you would have no problem adjusting, and you would probably be amused at the complaints you hear about the "weather" here (and the bugs -- of which there are very few).

Feel free to message me, and good luck!

[susie66n]

I am also looking at the Boulder Creek area. Does the area get crowded with college students? Since you can't swim in Loch Lomond is there a place besides the ocean to swim? I can't find any pictures of Ben Lomond and Lompico's downtown or main street any suggestions?

[Wisteria]

I am also looking at the Boulder Creek area. Does the area get crowded with college students? Since you can't swim in Loch Lomond is there a place besides the ocean to swim? I can't find any pictures of Ben Lomond and Lompico's downtown or main street any suggestions?

Hi, I'm the one who lives in Lompico, which is technically in the town of Felton -- Lompico is a neighborhood in the redwoods but is part of Felton, California -- I hope that helps.

I'll attach a few photos here -- I really should go around town and take some, but these might give a little feel for it. Downtown Felton is small, as is Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond -- the main three towns all in a row (and the tiny town of Brookdale is sandwiched in-between). These are all rural mountain towns.

No, they are NOT swamped with college kids!! Most of the college kids stay in Santa Cruz -- they don't seem to want to come up to the mountain areas, I think they'd rather hang out in town around the bars and downtown Santa Cruz.

It is very quiet up where we are, which is why I chose it over Santa Cruz. I like the country feel up here better. Ironically, though, it is only 15-20 minutes from downtown Santa Cruz and the beaches. It is literally night and day between the two, yet they are so close together -- which gives people the chance to enjoy both the woods and the town and the redwoods and the ocean. That's why it's so expensive around these parts because nature created this unique setting.

I don't have many photos of town, myself, so I'll just put something here to look at. There are lots of horse stables nearby, lots of beautiful hiking spots -- so many places to enjoy nature!! It's really hard to list them all. The whole area is very clean and beautiful. People are laid back and friendly.

As for swimming, you're right, you can't swim in Loch Lomond, however, there are many pools around the County (Felton, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz and Ben Lomond are all in Santa Cruz County -- north county). People go swimming in the Ben Lomond Dam (photo below), which is really nice. There is also the Brookdale Lodge that has a great, historic indoor swimming pool (here's the link to the Lodge -- they have a very interesting history, it is right here in town and there's good music, plus the restaurant has a literal, real creek going right through it!). http://www.brookdalelodge.com/history/index.html

There is the Lompico park, which you probably already saw in the photos on the Lompico.org website, but there is no specific downtown with shops, because it is a part of Felton. So here's a couple of photos of Felton -- an area near the health food store, and the town park, and one of part of the high school (San Lorenzo Valley High School) campus.

Lompico and Felton are closer to Santa Cruz, and Boulder Creek is about another 10 miles up the road into the redwoods more. As for college kids hanging out -- no, it's not that kind of place. Those of us who live in the mountain towns love it for the peacefulness of the place -- and if we want city activity, we just go into Santa Cruz -- they seem separate in ways, but are both easily accessible. One weekend I may take a hike with friends in a local park, like Quail Hollow Ranch which has horse stables and lots of hiking trails; another weekend I'll go and walk on the Santa Cruz wharf and the beach. As you can see from the below, it's a very clean area!! I really need to take photos around town and post them, but these will help for now, I hope.

Hope these photos help.
FELTON TOWN PARK



SAN LORENZO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL -- FELTON



BEN LOMOND DAM SWIMMING (town between Felton and Boulder Creek)


FELTON -- DOWNTOWN NEAR HEALTH FOOD STORE



SANTA CRUZ WHARF AND BEACH -- just minutes from downtown Felton

[firecoach]

I had begun another thread about Boulder Creek recently, so I am really appreciative to find your replies! Can you give the range of housing and what paper to look in for rentals before owning?? Thx again for your info!

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by Wisteria

Hi, I'm the one who lives in Lompico, which is technically in the town of Felton -- Lompico is a neighborhood in the redwoods but is part of Felton, California -- I hope that helps.

I'll attach a few photos here -- I really should go around town and take some, but these might give a little feel for it. Downtown Felton is small, as is Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond -- the main three towns all in a row (and the tiny town of Brookdale is sandwiched in-between). These are all rural mountain towns.

No, they are NOT swamped with college kids!! Most of the college kids stay in Santa Cruz -- they don't seem to want to come up to the mountain areas, I think they'd rather hang out in town around the bars and downtown Santa Cruz.

It is very quiet up where we are, which is why I chose it over Santa Cruz. I like the country feel up here better. Ironically, though, it is only 15-20 minutes from downtown Santa Cruz and the beaches. It is literally night and day between the two, yet they are so close together -- which gives people the chance to enjoy both the woods and the town and the redwoods and the ocean. That's why it's so expensive around these parts because nature created this unique setting.

I don't have many photos of town, myself, so I'll just put something here to look at. There are lots of horse stables nearby, lots of beautiful hiking spots -- so many places to enjoy nature!! It's really hard to list them all. The whole area is very clean and beautiful. People are laid back and friendly.

As for swimming, you're right, you can't swim in Loch Lomond, however, there are many pools around the County (Felton, Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz and Ben Lomond are all in Santa Cruz County -- north county). People go swimming in the Ben Lomond Dam (photo below), which is really nice. There is also the Brookdale Lodge that has a great, historic indoor swimming pool (here's the link to the Lodge -- they have a very interesting history, it is right here in town and there's good music, plus the restaurant has a literal, real creek going right through it!). Brookdale Lodge - History & Legends

There is the Lompico park, which you probably already saw in the photos on the Lompico.org website, but there is no specific downtown with shops, because it is a part of Felton. So here's a couple of photos of Felton -- an area near the health food store, and the town park, and one of part of the high school (San Lorenzo Valley High School) campus.

Lompico and Felton are closer to Santa Cruz, and Boulder Creek is about another 10 miles up the road into the redwoods more. As for college kids hanging out -- no, it's not that kind of place. Those of us who live in the mountain towns love it for the peacefulness of the place -- and if we want city activity, we just go into Santa Cruz -- they seem separate in ways, but are both easily accessible. One weekend I may take a hike with friends in a local park, like Quail Hollow Ranch which has horse stables and lots of hiking trails; another weekend I'll go and walk on the Santa Cruz wharf and the beach. As you can see from the below, it's a very clean area!! I really need to take photos around town and post them, but these will help for now, I hope.

Hope these photos help.
FELTON TOWN PARK



SAN LORENZO VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL -- FELTON



BEN LOMOND DAM SWIMMING (town between Felton and Boulder Creek)


FELTON -- DOWNTOWN NEAR HEALTH FOOD STORE



SANTA CRUZ WHARF AND BEACH -- just minutes from downtown Felton

Thanks for the beautiful pictures. I have alot of research ahead of me.Thanks Wisteria!


sunny

[CAFamily]

Hi! I've lived here in Santa Cruz all my life and it's a lovely place. Diverse in landscape as well as socially. I grew up in Capitola, a costal town in Santa Cruz county.

I, myself, have seen just to opposite to be true regarding fog and weather - I've seen it becoming increasingly foggy over the years. A good way to check on the weather is to google webcams in the Santa Cruz and Monterey areas, see the photos yourself. Here's a local tv station link: TheKSBWChannel.com - Weather Cam

Santa Cruz has very mild winters compared to most of the US, and we have sunshine quite often during winter. I personally like lviing in the visually open coastal parts of Santa Cruz vs. the redwoods, but it's lovely to have both options! Some parts of the mountain communities can be quite cold in the winter, seeing little sun depending on where you live and how your house is situated (LOTS of trees). My sister lives in Felton in an open area and loves it. We lived in Corralitos for many years (opposite part of the county - south part in the foothills) and loved it there.

Hope this helps!!